Obstetrical bed



L. L. GILBERT OBSTETRICAL BED May 5, 1931-,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1925 May 5, 1931.

L.' L. GILBERT OBSTETRICAL "BED Filed Sept. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

rlfllllllll fl 4 v v Fatented May 5, 1931 ATES LEVI L. GILBERT, OF MESQUITE, NEVADA OBSTETRICAL BED Application filed September 9, 1925.

This invention relates to an obstetrical bed and more particularly to a folding, portable bed especially adapted for use in home cases of child-birth.

There are now beds of this general type on the market, but for various reasons they are not entirely satisfactory. The comfort of the patient and the simplicity as well as the sanitation of the bed have not been given the attention they deserve.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a light, readily portable, simple yet rigid, obstetrical bed that is perfectly smooth and comfortable in any position and :hat may easily be kept clean and sanitary.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an obstetrical bed that may be folded into the compass of an ordinary suitcase to be carried by the visiting physician.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the cisclosures in the drawings andspecification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of an obstetrical bed embodying the principles of my invention, with the legs removed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the central portion of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view, with the legs and mattress removed.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3 showing the mattress in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 3, showing the operation in dotted lines.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of one corner.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line VIIVIT of Figure 6 showing parts in elevation. I

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view showing the connection between sections of the bed.

As shown on the drawings:

There is shown an obstetrical bed comprising a supporting member 1, preferably Serial No. 55,330.

formed of sheet metal in two hinged sections or leaves 2 and 3 to permit folding. The leaves 2 and 3 are provided with downwardly extending flanged edges 4 on all sides except along the inner edge of leaf 3, which overlaps the leaf 2 as at 5. The leaves 2 and 3 are pivotally connected by a pin or bolt 6 (Figure 5) extending through the adjacent overlapping edges 4. The bolt 6 extends through an elongated slot 7 in the edge 4 of the leaf 2 so that the leaf 2 may be moved away from the leaf 3 sufficiently for the leaf 2 to clear the overlapping edge 5, when said leaves 2 and 3 are folded together. A pair of bolts 8 slidably held in lugs 9 on the inside of the abutting edges 4 is adapted to lock said leaves 2 and 3 in extended position.

The outside corners of the leaves 2 and 3 are provided with leg sockets 10, each comprising a hollow angular member secured by rivets 12 at the corners to the edges 4 and extending upwardly beyond the surface of the leaves 2 and 3 to form projections 11. Legs or standards 13 may be detachably secured in said sockets 10 as shown in Figure 2. Said legs 13 are preferably rounded metal bars having their lower ends flattened and formed into an angle shaped portion 14 adapted to fit into the sockets 10. Said leg portions 14 have vertical slots 15 therein to receive the rivets 12 and thereby hold the legs in vertical position. Leg straps 16 are secured to eyebolts 17 in the upper ends of said legs 13. traps 18 for the patient to pull on during labor are adapted to be connected to eyebolts 25 rotatably secured on each side of the socket menibers 10. v

The leaves 2 and 3 when in extended position are adapted to receive a mattress 20, preferably of the pneumatic type. Said mattress 20 is held at the corners by the angle shaped projections 11 and is further secured to the leaves 2 and 3 by studs 21 secured to said leaves and adapted to engage with sockets 22 in the bottom of said mattress. The mattress ing labor to turn the patie t at the side of the portable bed so that any side of the supporting member 1 by means of the eye-bolts and hooks 26 on the member 1 and the mattresses 24; respectively.

It is thus seen that I have provided an obstetrical bed that may be readily folded up and carried, together with the deflated mattresses, in any suitable container, such as an ordinary suitcase. hen the bed is to be placed in readiness for the patient, it can be quickly unfolded and locked in open position and placed on a regular bed or table. The hollow underside of the rigid supporting member 1 formed by the flanges l prevents the bed from slipping when supported upon the usual dressing of an ordinary bed. The

standards are inserted into place as desired. During labor the mattresses may be in the po sition shown in Figure 1, in readiness for the patient to assume the Sims or Dorsal position. If the Lithotomy position is required, just before delivery one of the mattresses 24: may be removed from under the patients feet and 1100 ed along the adjacent side. The patients shoulders can then be swung around so that they rest on this mattress. The standards 13 may be moved to any pair of sockets 10 to correspond with the patients position. A skirt (not shown) may be provided to conduct the discharge fluids from the channel 23 into a receptacle under the bed. As the supporting member 1 is preferably formed of enameled sheet metal, it may be easily cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition. Furthermore, the rigid structure provided prevents the formation of pools of discharge during the delivery, as is the case when the patient lies on an ordinary bed. Thus the comfort of the patient is increased and unsanitary conditions eliminated.

It is usual procedure in the 2' of cases in obstetrics to place of this invention on the dre; or clothes of an ordinary bed with the p lying lengthwise of the bed with the feet tor. ard the niaiori ty orta his bed 3 head or foot of the bed, as is most convenient under the circumstances. The pm-tzdnr bed having been applied unde oath the patient, then the two standards or upzights will be applied at the side of the portable bed near the feet of the patient. The patient remains in this position for some time andtherefore may be comfortably positioned on the portable bed.

However, it often becomes necessary durwise of the bed and at times it is essential that this change of position be accomplished quickly, It is obvious that a i that there i ecessary to be done to change the patient from lying lengthwise of the bed to a crosswise position is to detach the uprights or standards and then swing the patient crosswise of the bed without moving the portable bed i: gree whatsoever and insertingthe s of the patient will be at the front of the bed in the proper position.

I t is obvious that if the uprights or stand ards were fixed or adjustable in one position only then when necessary to turn the patient crosswise of the bed it would be necessary to turn the obstetrical bed as well the patient. This, however, is impracticable as the patient and the obstetrical bed cannot be turned to gether because of the fact that the drainage from the supporting cushions and the like must be always the front edge of the bed: and were the patient and bed to be turned crosswise, then. this would displace the drainage with disastrous results, or it would be necessary to lift the patient from the obstetrical bed, turn bed crosswise of the usual bed, reposition the drainage and the supporting cushions and the portable table before replacing the patient. In many instances such movement of the patient or the slight delay attendant on carrying out these steps would have serious results to the patient.

All that is necessary to be done with the bed of this invention when moving a patient in any position thereon is to remove the standards or uprights, swing the patient about on the portable bed without disturbing the portable bed and the drainage arrangements or supporting cushions into the desired position, and then insert the standards or uprights in such portions of the portable bed as are convenient for the then position of the patient.

This adjustability of the standards or uprights is a very important feature of the present invention and is a feature which makes it possible for any physician or surgeon employing the portable bed in connection with surgical or obstetrical cases to use the highest degree of technique, which technique is impractical or impossible in any device not provided with the adj ustments of the standards or uprights.

The adjustability of the standards or uprights, as before stated, enables quick change of position of the patient without having to move the portable bed and its dressings and drainage arrangements and a the same time readjusting the standards or uprights so that the patient may be comfortably supported in any position desired or necessary under the circumstances.

lVhen the patient is changed from one position to another the back and shoulders may be suitably supported by pillows, cushions, comforters or mattress sections which may be readily and quickly moved as occasion demands.

The bed of this invention provides greater comfort for the patient, increased convenience and satisfaction to the physician whereby he may employ the highest degree of technique required under the circun'istances.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range ha i without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An obstetrical bed comprising a pair of flanged supporting leaves hingedly connected to each other, means for locking said leaves in extended position, socket members secured to the outer corners of said leaves, standards adapted to be secured in said socket members, a mattress having a cutaway portion adapted to be supported on said extended leaves and a plurality of mattresses detachably secured to the flanged edges of said leaves.

2. A portable obstetrical bed comprising a plurality of pneumatic mattress sections, one of said sections having a cut away portion, a sheet metal support for said cut away mattress section comprising hinged members, corner brackets on said support for receiving the corners of said mattress section thereon to retain said mattress in position on said support, said other mattress sections being hooked to said support, and said mattress sections and said support arranged to be collapsed and packed together in a portable unitary package.

3. A portable obstetrical bed comprising a plurality of pneumatic mattress sections, one of said sections having a cut away portion, a sheet metal support for said cut away mattress section comprising hinged members,

corner brackets on said support for receiving the corners of said mattress section therein, a plurality of standards, said corner brackets arranged to slidin ly receive said standards, said other mattress sections being hooked to said support, and said mattress sections, said support and said standards arranged to be collapsed and packed together in a portable unitary package.

4. A portable obstetrical bed comprising a sheet metal member formed of hinged sections, and foldable into compact size, bolts carried by one of said sections for engaging another section to maintain the same in extended position, a plurality of inflatable mattresses arranged to be fastened to any side of said member, an inflatable mattress having a cut away portion arranged to be fastened on said member, said member and said mat-- tress having cooperating attaching means,

brackets at the outer corners of said member arranged to receive the corners of the mattress thereon, standards arranged to be re movably associated with said brackets and extending above the same, hand straps secured to said member, leg straps secured to sheet metal supporting member of hinged sections, having flanges about the margins of the same on the under side thereof, arranged to be positioned on a bed, table or the like, with said flanges against the coverings f the same to prevent movement of said supporting member, a mattress having a cut away portion removably fastened to said member, and other mattresses hooked to certain sides of said member, said mattresses and said supporting member arranged to be collapsed and removable in collapsed condition in a readily portable package.

6. A portable, legless, obstetrical bed comprising a plurality of collapsible members,

arranged to be assembled in compact form and when collapsed to be readily carried as a unit, said bed comprising a supporting member of sheet metal formed of hinged sections, flanges on the under sides of certain sections to prevent movement of said memher when in use and supported on a bed table or the like, means for holding said sections in extended position, brackets at the corners of said members extending above the top surface thereof, uprights insertable in said brackets, leg straps on said uprights, an air mattress having a cut away portion arranged on said member and engaging said brackets to prevent movement of said mattress with respect to said member, and other air mattresses attachable to said member and shiftable thereabout to underlie a patient in any desired position on said bed, said mat-tresses being deflated and packed with said supporting member and uprights when folded.

'2". A portable obstetrical bed comprising a main member formed of hinged sections of sheet metal, a mattress having a cut away portion, said member and said mattress having cooperating fastening means, and other mattresses hooked to said member.

8. A portable obstetrical bed, comprising a supporting member of hinged sections, a plurality of mattress sections associated with said member to be hooked thereto on any side thereof, and a mattress for said member co-extensive with the same when in extended position, and having a part thereof cut away, said latter mentioned mattress and said member having cooperating fastening means.

9. A foldable obstetrical bed comprising two hinged members, one member having depending flanges on all four margins, the other member having depending flanges on three margins thereof with one open margin, said members being pivotally connected adjacent the open margin of said other member which overlaps the first member by pins passing through the overlapping depending flanges of said members, bolts on the undersides of said members for locking the same in extended or open position, angularly recessed corner brackets at the outer corners of said members, and standards having angularly shaped ends for removably interfitting said brackets.

10. An obstetrical bed comprising a pair of supporting leaves hingedly connected, means for locking said leaves in extended position, angular socket members secured to the outer corners of said leaves, standards having angular end portions for removable association with said brackets, one of said members having flanges depending from all four margins thereof and the other of said members having flanges depending from three margins thereof with one open marsaid members being hinged so that the other member overlaps the first member ad j acent its open margin.

11. A surgical or obstetrical table including a pair of uprights adapted to support the limbs of a patient on the table, said table having spaced engaging portions adjacent to each edge thereof for interchangeably receiving said uprights in different positions on said table.

12. A portable obstetrical bed adapted to be placed on an ordinary bed for use, said obstetrical bed having means whereby a patient on the bed may be supported thereby in different operative positions substantially normal to each other on the bed, said means comprising a pair of uprights to support the limbs of a patient, and means on saidtable arranged to receive saia pair of limb-supporting uprights in operative positions which are substantially normal to each other.

13. A portable obstetrical bed, said bed having means whereby a patient on the bed may be supported thereby in different operative positions substantially normal, to each other on the bed, said means comprising a pair of uprights to support the limbs of a patient, and means positioned substantially at each of the four corners of a square delined by said bed arranged to receive said pair of limb-supporting uprights in interchangeable removable association therein and in operative positions which are substantially normal to each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEVI L. GILBERT. 

